EMPIDONAX TRAILLI. 
185 
again to his perch on some favorite branch, quietly reiterating his clie-bcck. He has very 
little time to rest, however, especially during the migrating season, for he is constantly 
called upon to drive some intruder from his domains and no matter how large the species 
may be they are all forced to retreat, most ignominiously defeated, before the sudden and 
well directed attacks of their little foe. This extreme pugnacity, however, is only exhib¬ 
ited during the excitement of the breeding season; after the eggs are laid and domestic 
cares engage his attention, his tyrannical spirit becomes somewhat subdued and then he 
is gradually transformed into as sedate and peaceful a member of avian society as can be 
found in the orchard. 
As already described, the usual notes of the Least Flycatchers are very abrupt, they 
are also extremely harsh and attract attention by their oddity for they form a strong con¬ 
trast to the harmonious strains of many of the Qscines. These Flycatchers, however, 
frequently make an attempt to sing, for they will alight on a twig, flutter their wings, at 
the same time uttering a feeble twitter which is so low that it can be heard but a few 
yards yet, in comparison to their other efforts, it is somewhat melodious. This rude lay 
is only practiced during the breeding season for when the young appear, both sexes are 
busily engaged in supplying them with food. 
The Least Flycatchers begin to buikl soon after their arrival but, as some time is re¬ 
quired to construct their domiciles, the eggs are not generally deposited until the first 
week in June. The situations chosen are almost invariably forked twigs on apple trees, 
for these birds are fond of the open country, seldom being seen in the deep woods. Both 
sexes incubate and the young hatch in less than two weeks. They are very unsuspicious 
when they nest near houses and a pair that built in a tree near my door the past summer 
would permit me to examine their neatly constructed home without evincing any concern, 
e\;en when it contained young. The young are out of the nest by July and accompany 
their parents for a short time but they soon learn to provide for themselves, when they 
scatter about the country, often entering the woods at this season. I do not think that 
the adults moult at all while in the north as I never took one that was assuming the au¬ 
tumnal dress, even as far south as Pennsylvania. They do not remain late in the season, 
generally leaving Massachusetts by the second week in September, but I have seen them 
as late as the, twentieth of the month. They linger for a short time in Pennsylvania 
when they inhabit the woods, rather avoiding the open country, but before the first of 
Octobor there is not one to be found in the north. 
There are few birds which are of more benefit to the husbandman than the Least Fly¬ 
catchers as they have few faults and the quantity of insects which they destroy is very 
large. These are mainly captured where they are doing the greatest amount of damage, 
for these Flycatchers do not wander far from the gardens and orchards in which they build. 
Besides snapping up numbers of dipterous insects, they feed largely upon small beetles of 
various species, and I have even known them to eat canker worms. Thus, although not 
so ornamental or melodious as many of our native species, we must cheerfully accord this 
quaint little Flycatcher a place in our gardens for which it will amply repay us by doing 
its best to check the increase of our insect enemies. 
BIRDS OF FLORIDA. 
24 
